Police said Saturday that they have identified a suspect in the case and have issued a murder warrant for his arrest.

But police believe the suspect may have already fled the country.

While police did not release a home address for Mr. Rivera, police say the 30-year-old was from Worcester.

Records show that Mr. Rivera was also the victim of a shooting in Southbridge in February 2012. The shooting reportedly occurred during an argument Mr. Rivera had with someone about a stolen ATV.

Mr. Rivera reportedly was shot twice in the groin in that incident.

Police have watched video from security cameras at all businesses near Fadeaway Barbershop, 42 Chandler St., where Mr. Rivera was gunned down during rush hour Friday night.

Saturday afternoon, police cleared the shooting scene, removing yellow crime scene tape that has surrounded the shop since Friday evening. What appeared to be blood spatters remained on the sidewalk in front of Fadeaway. A sign on the window said it was under new management.

Though the window blinds were mostly drawn, the inside of the shop could be glimpsed from the sidewalk. Late Saturday morning the lights were still on, and a fan or heating unit appeared to be blowing. A pile of white sheets lay in the corner, and trash, bowls of M&Ms and clumps of hair could be seen inside.

A woman going by the name "Love Santos" posted on the Worcester Police Department Facebook page: "You will be miss (sic) very much rest easy pitbull." Another poster said the victim was from Southbridge.

The victim was pronounced dead soon after arriving at St. Vincent Hospital emergency room, according to police. He was shot in the chest about 5:30 p.m. after arguing and fighting with another man.

The suspect had entered the shop and started an argument with the victim, police said. The argument turned into a fight and the assailant pulled out a gun and shot the victim.

This morning, shopkeepers in the area — near the busy intersection of Chandler and Main streets — said drug commerce is a constant in the neighborhood, and shootings and stabbings have been frequent over the years.

"It doesn't surprise me," said Alan Doran, 69, owner of Allen's Locksmith, which is next door to the barbershop.

Mr. Doran said he has witnessed and heard of plenty of violence during the more than three decades he has been doing business on the corner — violence he attributed to the illegal drug trade. "I've seen pretty much everything."

Mr. Doran said he and other business people often call police to request foot patrols. The Police Department from time to time assigns officers on foot and drug activity subsides and moves somewhere else, he said.

"We call it snowplowing," he said.

But when the patrols stop, usually when funding runs out, the sellers of drugs and their customers come back, Mr. Doran said.

Friday evening, a man who declined to give his name said he had been in the barbershop when the shooting occurred. He would not reveal any details about what happened, but said he had been interviewed by police. A man across the street said he heard a "pop" around the time of the shooting.

Several other people who were on the sidewalk immediately after police arrived said they had not heard or seen anything.

In the aftermath of the shooting, some officers secured the crime scene while others rushed to the hospital. Police met with two men at the hospital who had driven the victim there.

Detectives impounded the vehicle used to transport the victim, and towed it to police headquarters to search it for evidence.

Investigators are seeking a motive for the fight that led up to the shooting.

Contact Shaun Sutner at ssutner@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ssutner. Scott J. Croteau contributed to this story; contact him at scott.croteau@telegram.com and follow him on Twitter @ScottCroteauTG.

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